Weicker supports Lamont

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT), HARTFORD (AP) - Former Gov. Lowell Weicker is helping to throw a fundraiser later this month for Ned Lamont, the Greenwich businessman challenging U.S. Sen. Joe

Published 1:00 am, Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Weicker said six months ago that he would consider challenging Lieberman if a credible anti-war candidate did not step forward.

Lamont "is 100 percent opposed to the war in Iraq and so am I," said Weicker, who is now registered as an unaffiliated voter. His wife is a Democrat. "I want him to be the next United States senator from Connecticut."

"I think this in part shows some of the breadth of support that Ned has been able to develop in a very short period of time," Swan said. "Ned appeals to people across the political spectrum who want to see real change in Washington."

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Weicker, who was elected governor in 1990 on the independent 'A
Connecticut Party
' ticket and is expected to give a speech at the fundraiser, has been in touch with Lamont and Swan. He said he approached Lamont and asked him to consider running.

"I backed Ned even before Ned announced" he was running, Weicker said.

Weicker, who now lives in Essex, and Lamont have known one another for years. Both lived in Greenwich at the same time, and Weicker appointed Lamont to sit on a state pension advisory board when he was governor.

Weicker called Lamont "the obvious underdog" in the race, despite a recent
Quinnipiac University
poll that shows growing support for the businessman. But Weicker said he is backing Lamont because of his positions on the war and health care, not his chance of winning.

"Just like in 1988, Joe Lieberman is running against a Republican millionaire from Greenwich, and once again
Senator Lieberman
will win because of his record of fighting for the men and women of Connecticut," she said.

Lieberman's campaign has tried to portray Lamont as politically conservative because of past statements and his voting record as a Greenwich selectman. But much of Lamont's support is coming from liberals opposed to the war.

Lyn May of East Haddam said organizers approached the Weickers about chairing the fundraiser and they agreed.

"He is such a force in Connecticut politics that there are few people who aren't thrilled to have him attend any event," said May, a member of the organizing committee. "I'll tell you exactly what he brings - gravitas. What he brings is gravitas, credibility, experience, energy and focus."